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Seven died of drug overdose last year

SHARJAH - Seven people died of drug overdose in Sharjah last year, police officials said on Tuesday.

A total of 223 people were arrested in 122 drug related cases, police officials said, quoting figures from the annual police report of 2003. The report was released on Tuesday.

The number of drug related cases showed a drop compared with the previous year's figures. Colonel Saleh Ali Al Mutawa, Director of Sharjah Police, said the authorities had been exerting efforts in the fight against the menace of drugs as part of extensive plans set by the UAE Interior Ministry.

He said drug related crimes declined by 38 cases compared to 2002 figures. He said strong anti-drug policies and extensive media campaigns against drug abuse had been strong factors behind the drop in the cases.

The report showed several aspects of the fight against drugs in the emirate and efforts being made in this context on national and regional levels.

Officials said 41.5 kg of hashish, 18 kg of Qat, 4.6 kg of opium, 3,433 narcotic pills of various types were seized, besides other drugs including marijuana.

Out of the 223 people arrested, 45.61 per cent held for possessing drugs, 31.14 per cent for using, 12.28 per cent for bringing and some seven per cent for circulating drugs. Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Rahman Al Fardan, Head of the Anti-Narcotics Division of Sharjah Police, disclosed that drug cases at the UAE level showed a decline last year.

He attributed that to the vigorous efforts made by police and anti-narcotics divisions. He said the decline was noticeable in cases of drug possession, circulation and abuse.

• UAE